Chaeles e



(No Model.) J

' G. N. SWIFT.

TOBQAGGO MOISTENING TRAY.-

Patented Dec. 11

j WITNESSES:

ATTORNEYS;

N. PETERS MOM WW I16.

U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES N. SWIFT, on NEW YORK, n. Y.

TOBACCO-MOISTE'NING TRAY.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent Nd 290,141 dated December 11, 1883.

Application'filed March 31, 1883.

invented a new and Improved Moistening-j,

Tray forOigar-Cases, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention consists of amoistening-tray for cigar show-cases, stock-chests, shippingcasings, cabinets, &c., adapted to be placed in the bottom of the show-case or other inclosures and to have the cigar-boxes arranged upon it, the cover of the tray being perforated for free circulation of air and supported to prevent sagging. 4

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification. in

' which similar letters of referenceindicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view, of a showcase, showing the manner of using my new and improved moistening-tray. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of one of the moistening-trays, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the tray with the perforated cover slightly raised.

The tray A is made shallow and of sheetpreference made to fit inside of the walls of the tray A,and of a width so that they will support the upper surface of. the cover flush with the edges of the walls of the tray, thus furnishing a level support for cigar-boxes.

In the form shown in the drawings threeof the trays are placed in the show-case, and they 7 are of a size to form a complete floor for the showcase D, on which the cigar-boxes may be it is designed always to use as many trays as may be required to cover the bottom of the (No model.)

show-case; but a single tray or a less number thantwould entirely cover the bottom of the show-case might be used, if desired, with good results.

In use a suitable quantity of water or other liquid will be poured into the trays. The air in the show-case will circulate through the perforations in the cover'B into contact with the water and become humid from the evaporation of the liquid, and in circulating through the case among the cigars will keep them moist V The bibulous and always in good condition. material 0 in the trays serves, when the wa ter gets low in the tray, to retard the evaporation, so that a single supply of water will last a considerable time and the trays will require but little attention.

Instead of forming the ribs aa upon the under side of the cover B,they might be formed or attached to the bottom of the tray A, or placed loosely in the tray for supporting the cover, in which case the material C will be cut into strips to fit between the ribs, as will be readily understood; and to avoid the 'necessity of displacing the goods in the case, chest, cabinet, &c., when the trays need at tention, I provide the cover B with the .holes at at the corners large enough to admit the. 4

spout of a funnel, through which the liquid may be poured into the tray; or a space might bev left for this purpose between the edge of the cover B and the walls of the tray A.

These holes (1 also serve as finger-entrances for lifting the cover out of the tray.

Having thus described my invention, Iclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. As an improved article of manufacture, a moistening-tray for cigar-cases, consisting of the shallow tray A and perforated cover B, provided with the supports a, substantially as and for the purposes set fort-h.

. 2-, The tray A and sheet, 0, of bibulous material, in combination with the perforated cover B, provided with the projections a, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

. CHARLES N. SWIFT. "X i'tii esses:

' H. A. WEST, O; SnDeWIoK. 

